Biography

"Life and its possibilities are still endless...'' - Jens Gad

PRESS RELEASE - IMAGEM SIGNING:

Imagem Music USA (IMU), home to such talent as Phil Collins, Genesis, Steve Robson, Guy Sigsworth and The Temper Trap, has signed a worldwide, multi-year co-publishing agreement with writer/producer Jens Gad.

Best known for working with the globally successful Enigma, writer/producer Jens Gad has recently relocated his studio to the US. The older brother and, in many ways, inspiration of fellow writer/producer Toby Gad (Beyoncé - "If I Were a Boy"; Fergie - "Big Girls Don't Cry"), Jens, in the words of Richard Stumpf, President of IMU, has "hit the ground running." Hard at work writing for a number of forthcoming artist releases, Jens is a multi-instrumentalist, passionate about drawing the perfect song from each artist he works with.

Stumpf commented: "The musicianship, experience, and versatility that Jens has make him an extremely strong writer/producer. Whether it is a 'chill out' Enigma style song, or an upbeat pop smash with a huge hook, Jens has quite the sonic tool box. We are thrilled to have him as part of our writer family."

Gad noted: "I really found my perfect home at Imagem; their global setup, style, variety and proactive approach form the ideal environment for my writing and production needs."

OFFICIAL LONG FORM JENS GAD BIOGRAPHY

Jens Gad was born in Munich, Germany to parents of Danish heritage. Exposure to music was predestined, as both parents are jazz musicians with their own band, the Jazz Kids.

Jens began at a very early age to experiment with drums and played them as a member of his parents’ band. This early initiation encouraged him to develop a multifaceted understanding of the rhythms and workings of music, talents he very aptly displays in his work today.As early as 7 years old, Jens was playing the guitar and writing his own compositions along with his brother Toby Gad. Jens along with Toby made their first live performances as The Gad Rollers during performance breaks with the Jazz Kids. By the age of 10 he had already performed in several television appearances with Germany’s most popular Show Master, Thomas Gottschalk. There were abundant live gigs around Munich and appearances on radio shows like Rockhouse. Even at this early age, Jens accomplished his first studio production with Gunther Mende, who later went on to produce Jennifer Rush (CBS).

While most of us would be consumed with passing math and science in high school, Jens was performing with his school band Blow Up in numerous concerts throughout Germany and before graduation in 1986 he had already begun collaboration with producer Anthony Monn.

It was during this time that he had his first experience in a professional 32-track studio where Jens was given the freedom and encouragement to develop a natural and spontaneous style of producing music.

Jens and Toby received their first credits as musician/writers on releases for Saragossa Band (Metronome) and on the album “Contact” by German artist Fancy (WEA) in the technodance songs “I Don’t Want To Go” and “Girl Don’t Let Me Down”.

The brother duo also produced an album for Peter Schilling (WEA) and shortly thereafter Jens and Toby started the project Q where Jens first appeared in the role of lead singer. After graduation from high school in Munich, he went on to begin work with producer Armand Volker in Pilot Studio. There he contributed re-mixes for Spliff (CBS) and Double (Phonogram). He also worked with the German top group Münchener Freiheit (Sony Music) on their third album “Love Is No Science” by doing additional programming on the songs “Dirty Book” and “Tell Him Goodbye”.

His work with Frank Farian began in 1988 as an author/artist. Farian is also credited with discovering the talents of Michael Cretu, a soon to be major influence on Jens’ artistic development. Jens and Toby wrote 3 songs for the ill fated group Milli Vanilli (Hansa); “Can’t You Feel My Love”, “Boy In The Tree”, and “Is It Love” on their hugely successful album “All Or Nothing”. This was their first involvement with an international top-ten chart success.

In 1990 came the release of the first Q album under Frank Farian through Polydor Records. Jens and Toby did all of the writing and production on this album and performed it live in front of 2000 people at Munich’s In Club park café. The press responded very well to the album with comments like this one from George Clinton, guest critic of Music Express: “The sounds and grooves of “Q” / NRG are brilliantly produced and funky from the first note on.” Q would later perform a live studio session and guest appearance with George Clinton in the theater Fabrik in Munich.

The year 1991 saw the beginning of the long collaboration with Michael Cretu, creator of Enigma, in Michael’s studio on the island of Ibiza, Spain. Michael’s A.R.T. Studios is one of the world’s most advanced computer studios and Michael’s aesthetic way of arranging and producing music was to become a strong influence in guiding the development of Jens’ abilities as producer/engineer with the latest computer recording technologies. During his time at A.R.T. Studios, Jens co-produced pop singer Angel X’s (Andres Harde) (Sony Music) album “Welcome To The Soul Asylum” with Michael and also worked on re-mixing dance music for Sandra (Virgin) with the “Don’t Be Aggressive” remix “The Midnight Hour Mix”. He plays solo guitar on Enigma’s second album, “The Cross Of Changes” along with Michael’s long time friend Peter Cornelius. From this album Jens re-mixed the “Long & Alive Version” and “380 Midnight Mix” of Enigma’s worldwide hit “Return To Innocence”. He also worked closely with Michael re-mixing the movie “Sliver” soundtrack hit “Age Of Loneliness”, “The Götterdämmerung Mix” and “Dub Version” of “The Eyes Of Truth”, and “Rock Version” and “Trance Mix” of “Out From The Deep”.

Through his very talented work on this album he earned international respect and critical acclaim as a re-mixer and guitarist.

Jens’ first solo album “GAD” came during the 1993/94 time period. He did all of the writing, producing, lead vocals, live drums, guitar and keyboards in his own studio in the Bavarian countryside in Germany.

While there he also did dance re-mixes for the Green Jelly (Zoo Entertainment) single “The Bear Song” which was later featured in the hit movie “Dumb And Dumber”.

During the first half of 1995, Jens and Michael worked on production of Sandra’s seventh album “Fading Shades”. Nearly all of the titles and arrangements were by Jens and it was during this time that he made his final move to Ibiza where he started construction on his own studio. Later that same year he began the production and writing of his second solo album in the new studio. The following year he met with Steve Norman, former Spandau Ballet saxophonist, to produce Steve’s first solo project.

1998 was to signal the connection between Jens and Michael becoming stronger with the project Trance Atlantic Air Waves and the release of the album “The Energy Of Sound”. The next year they would both appear as producers on the very talented Andru Donalds album “Snowin’ Under My Skin” and again in 2001 on Andru’s “Let’s Talk About It”. In between those two albums came Enigma’s hit “The Screen Behind The Mirror” where Jens is credited with engineering and guitars on songs like “Push The Limits” and “Gravity Of Love”.

The work of Jens Gad has always been guided by his rhythmic focus on music and has shown an unusually wide variety of styles and influences. He has worked in all facets of the music industry as writer, producer, singer, live/studio musician and performer.

Jens has such an exceptionally complete understanding of music that it enables him to work totally independent and self-sufficient.

from SEQUOIA MUSIC

Jens Gad is a world-renowned musician, writer and producer perhaps best known for his 10-year association with Enigma, the musical project of multi-platinum producer Michael Cretu, which has been responsible for bringing new age music sensibilities into the world of dance club electronica with a succession of highly praised albums since their 1991 superhit, "Sadness".

Jens is a passionate guitarist (nearly all Enigma`s guitars) and drummer. He also has worked on a number of other internationally successful projects with international talents such as MICHAEL CRETU, FRANK FARIAN and ARMAND VOLKER and achieved world wide chart success with projects like ENIGMA, ANDRU DONALDS and MILLI VANILLI.

He spends the majority of his time producing and creating new musical visions at his state-of-the-art studio located on the beautiful Spanish island of Ibiza, hub of the wildly popular Mediterranean dance club movement. His latest solo effort is Le Spa Sonique, the 2006 album offering luxurious relaxation music sounds. Jens' musical project, Achillea, is joined by Helene Horlyck, who appeared on the 2005 album The Nine Worlds, Luisa Fernandez, who joins Jens on the 2007 album,Amadas Estrellas.